FINALLY, NO WORK, NO PAY! We thought we were seeing ghosts when even some of the frequent absentees in local legislative bodies have resurfaced and are now attending regular sessions, something they did not do often for the last nine months since assuming their posts.

At first, we  surmised these folks may have finally realized what public service means.

We were wrong. Little did we know that they were merely complying with new regulations of the Commission on Audit (COA) that now institutionalizes a strict “No work, no pay” policy in every government office.

This simply means that no government money is spent for a work that is not done.

Under the “No work, no pay” policy, government employees, councilors or board members cannot draw their salaries and representation and traveling allowance (RATA) if they do not attend sessions.

This bodes well for the Juan de la Cruzes who pay taxes to the  government, the taxes that pay the salaries and allowances of officials, councilors and board members.

Also under this policy, even the convenient use of Official Business (OB), the seeming excuse of some councilors in not attending sessions will no longer be acceptable.

COA must have known that OBs were abused in the past and which were not at all totally related to their work as legislators. This new policy will rein in the practice.

And if they insist that OB is part of their oversight functions as legislators, they will have to argue their cases before COA or the Supreme Court.

We heard that a city councilor who frequently invoked OB in trips to Manila as an official of the national league was slapped with P90,000 disallowance by COA, and will have to return the money.

It was clarified that the councilor can still proceed with his OB and collect per diems, but will have to forgo his salary and RATA proportionately. Again, absence during a regular session means “No work, no pay.”

Or that, OBs will still be allowed provided the councilor still attends the session to be entitled to his or her full salary and RATA.

Does the policy apply to the often changing of venues and dates of regular session of the Dagupan legislative body?

I hope it is not because the report that i got is that the councilors still meet but simply change the venue and date of the sessions in order to avoid people soliciting personal donations for barangay fiestas, athletic uniforms, etc. – Leonardo Micua

 

THE DISAPPEARING FISHPONDS. The fishponds in Binmaley are starting to disappear. Their number is fast depleting.

Many are being backfilled with soil to convert them either to commercial establishments or residential areas. Some have already been converted to subdivisions while others gave way to gasoline stations.

Those located along the national highway are fast becoming the objects of desire of businessmen who see potentials of fishponds for more lucrative endeavors.

It’s a sad effect of modernization.

We can’t blame them if they see more money with such conversion. It’s similar to rice fields turning to subdivisions.

I wonder if there’s government move to regulate this. And if indeed there is, I doubt if such is strictly implemented.

I dread the day when I will no longer see fishermen throwing feeds to the glee of bangus that quickly devour them.

I will miss seeing the fishermen in their bountiful harvest of bangus, malaga and sugpo which are the main produce of Binmaley.

I will surely be sad if Binmaley will lose its crown as the Fishbowl of Pangasinan.– Tita Roces

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